Connacht hooker Jason Harris-Wright out for six months with knee injury

Connacht coach Pat Lam has confirmed the loss of starting hooker Jason Harris-Wright, following an injury to his right knee during the weekend's 43-3 victory over Zebre.

“We just lost Jason Harris Wright for six months,” said Lam. “That’s number one and two hooker, before I signed Tom McCartney, out. If we hadn’t signed Tom we would be digging into the Academy again. It’s such an unfortunate injury for Jason as he has been out for six months and now he is gone again.”

Lam signed McCartney on a three-year deal from his native Auckland. Seán Henry is also unavailable but Dave Heffernan has provided effective hooker cover having switched from backrow.

Long-term list

Harris-Wright, 26, joins naturalised tighthead prop

Nathan White

and kiwi flanker

Jake Heenan

on the long-term list. Lam was convinced the 33- year-old White was poised to challenge

Mike Ross

for the Ireland number three jersey until rupturing a tendon in his upper arm. “Without a doubt. I’ve known Nathan for his whole career and watched him come through before working with him now at Connacht. The boys know the quality of the player, both on and off the field. He was very much in line to earn his first cap.”

White is not expected to play again until March.

Despite all these problems Connacht should field a stellar back-line, including Mils Muliaina and Bundee Aki, both of whom could be lining out alongside Robbie Henshaw for the first time on Saturday.

Muliaina, on debut, and Aki combined at 15 and 13 in the Zebre victory with Henshaw expected to slot into the midfield for the Scarlets visit to Galway. This looks a crucial encounter between the sixth and seventh ranked sides. “In the context of where both teams sit it is a massive game,” added Lam.